Vine-supporter



Patented Sept. l3, I898.

T. l. ELLIOTT. VINE SUPPDRTER.

(Application filed. Mar. 9, 1 98.)

(N0 Model.)

THOMAS I. ELLIOTT, OF HACKER VALLEY, IVEST VIRGINIA.

VINE -SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,803, dated September 13, 1898. Application filed March 9, 1898. Serial No. 673,193. (No model.)

citizen of'the United States,residing at Hacker Valley, in the county of Webster and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vine-Supporters;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to trellises or vine-supporters.

My object is to provide a frame or support for vines which, while reliably performing the work required of it, shall be durable, of cheap and easy construction, easily set up in operative position, and easily disassembled for storage or shipping purposes.

My invention is adapted to the use of gardeners and hortioulturists as a support for beans, peas, &c. This is more especially the casein sections of country where timber does not grow or when it has become scarce, so that the poles formerly used for sticking these vines can no longer be obtained. It is also Well adapted to support ornamental vines, forming a most suitable frame for arbors and the like, as will be pointed out farther on.

The construction and advantages of my invention will be more fully described and pointed out in the following specification and claims, the annexed drawings, which illustrate-the same, forming a part of this application.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, a number of the perpendicular rods or supports being omitted to prevent aconfusion of lines in the drawings. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the corner-posts.

My invention may be constructed of any desired material. In many cases wood will answer every requirement for the cornerposts and bars. In other instances cast-iron will be found more desirable for these parts, while it is thought that wire will be most suitable for the perpendicular rods. It is understood that the parts may be made any desired size.

My invention is constructed,preferably,rec-

tan gular in shape and when thus constructed consists of the corner-posts 1, which are united near the ground by the bars 2, 3, 4, and 5, the two latter (4 and 5) being disposed at right angles to the two former, (2 and 3,) while at the top said posts are united in a similar manner by the bars 6, 7, 8, and 9. 'Said posts 1 and bars 2 9 just referred to form the frame of my vine-supporter, which further consists of the lower series of intermediate bars 10 and the upper series 11. The former series 10 are disposed, preferably, parallel to the bars 4 and 5, forming equal intervals therewith and having their ends resting upon the bars 2 and 3, as do the ends of the bars at and 5, while the series 11 are similarly disposed in relation to the bars 8 and 9, being supported at their ends by the bars 6 and 7.

At equal intervals throughout the length of all the bars of my vine-supporter are the small holes 12, adapted to receive the perpendicular wires or rods 13, upon which the vines run, it being understood that the holes in the lower bars are each located immediately be neath the corresponding hole in the upper bar. Said rods are bent substantially into a ring at their top ends to prevent them from falling through the holes in the frame, and when in proper position their lower ends are a short distance above the ground.

The end holes in the eight bars of the frame are made large enough to receive the cornerposts. Said posts are provided with the sup porting-shoulders 1, upon which the bars 2 and 3 rest and support the whole lower series of transverse bars. At their tops the posts are tapered, and the top bars received thereon are provided with holes of sufficient size to easily receive only the top of the post, and by this means the upper series of transverse bars are supported in their proper position.

Vhen it is desired to give the vine-supporter greater strength and stability, the perpendicular bars on two or more sides thereof are made heavier and of about the same length as the corner-posts, so that like them they penetrate into the earth, forming, as it were, a continuous series of posts: This method is especially desirable when it is necessary to reinforce the frame, that it may better resist the force of strong winds. The additional post and the bars 14, 15, 16, and 17 show how the support may be continued ad infinitum.

For ornamental purposes a very nice effect may be produced by continuing the frame for a number of squares and planting the alternate squares in vines having foliage of a different color.

When I Wish to convert the vine-supporter into an arbor-frame, all that is necessary is to remove one or the other of the lower bars t or 5 and the lower series of intermediate bars 10 and all of the vertical rods or wires except those around the three closed sides of the frame.

A convenient size to make my supporter for ordinary purposes is ten feet square and six and a half feet high, with the holes for the vertical wires two feet apart.

Vines to be supported by my frame must be planted in squares the size of the frame and in rows the same distance apart that the Vertical wires are, so that when the four corner-posts of the frame are stuck in the four corner hills of the square the vertical rods will each be immediately over the hill of vines it is to support.

Having thus fully described and shown the principles of my invention and having illustrated a method by which it may be applied to use, yet I do not wish to be limited to the exact showing which I have made, but desire protection in all that clearly comes within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a knockdown arbor, the combination with the supporting corner-posts, of a series of bars provided with registering apertures designed to cooperate with said posts, and a series of vine-supporters designed to fit said registering apertures and remain substantially in a vertical position, whereby the vines will be held in an upright position, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described knockdown arbor consisting of a series of supportingposts,each provided with a fixed collar near its central portion and with an upper beveled end, in combination with the outer frame-bars 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, each provided with two enlarged end apertures and a series of intermediate apertures, and two series of intermediate bars 10 and 11 having series of registering apertures, and suitable means for holding said bars in operative relationship to each other whereby the vines to be supported will be guided and held in the manner specified and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an adjustable vine-support, the combination with the supporting-bars, one bar being disposed above the other and parallel thereto, each bar being provided with a series of apertures, of vine-supporting rods designed to pass through said apertures, and supporting-posts having a tapered end, and further provided with an annular bracket or collar near the middle part thereof, the portion of the post below said collar being practically of the same diameter as above the same, substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS I. ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

E. S. SMITH, T. E. FITZGEARLD. 

